Golf Rules: Marking and Moving Your Ball - What You Need to Know

Question
can an opponent or other player mark you ball without permission.   e.g. i have known people to mark a ball and toss it further up the green and the player has played from the wrong spot without knowing he had been marked and moved.  (incurring a penalty for playing from the wrong spot)

Answer
Hi Laurie,

An opponent cannot mark your ball without your permission. If a player does, he/she will incur a penalty of 1 stroke and the ball is replaced. Only the player, player's caddie or a person authorized by the player can mark the player's ball.

You can check out the rules of golf at www.usga.org

Hope this helps.

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Best regards,
Ken Tannar